Floating Islands: SSS Gacha Lord-Chapter 95 - Elemental Spear Mastery

Atlas had won!

"Ha... ha ha ha!"

Laughter erupted from deep within his chest, wild and breathless. He tore off his helmet, letting the cool air rush against his sweat-soaked face. His hair clung to his skin, and every breath felt like fire, but he was still standing.

Before him lay the massive, hulking corpse of the Orc. Its colossal frame was shattered, its thick hide marred with deep cracks that still glowed faintly with smoldering fire.

The massive stone club it had wielded shimmered nearby, still pulsing faintly with the same fiery aura, half-buried in the dirt where it had fallen.

And yes... just as he had suspected all along.

That thing had been huge, a true monster, terrifying in both size and power. Atlas chuckled again, breathless.

A notification flashed in his vision:

[You have killed Elite Moltencrusher Lv. 53]

[You obtained Emberguard Band]

[...]

[You received 26,445 Exp]

[Exp: 180,231/217,396]

[Level: 49]

[You have successfully completed the challenge. You have earned your rewards.]

[Common - Piercing Thrust leveled up to 8]

[Common - Sweeping Strike leveled up to 6]

[Common - Defensive Stance leveled up to 9]

[Common - Ground Slam leveled up to 6]

[Common - Power Strike leveled up to 10]

[Elite - Flurry of Spears leveled up to 3]

[Epic - Inferno Fortitude (Passive) leveled up to 2]

Atlas began reviewing the notifications that appeared in his vision one by one. The battle had earned him several skill level-ups, each one a major boost to his abilities. But what caught his attention the most was a special item he had received: the Emberguard Band.

It was a bracelet, heavy and etched with glowing runes. He slipped it onto his left wrist, feeling the heat pulse faintly against his skin. Before continuing, he checked the item’s detailed effects:

[Emberguard Band]

[A heavy, rune-inscribed bracelet that radiates heat, reinforcing the wearer’s durability.]

[Molten Endurance: Reduces stamina consumption by 15% when under attack.]

[Blazing Resilience: Grants a 20% resistance to fire-based attacks and reduces damage from burning effects.]

[Lava Shield Pulse: Releases a small AoE pulse of fire every 10 seconds when surrounded by three or more enemies, dealing minor fire damage and pushing attackers back slightly.]

"This reward is seriously indulgent," Atlas muttered.

The combination of effects was almost absurd, stamina conservation, fire resistance, and an area-of-effect damage burst. All packed into one item.

A smirk tugged at his lips.

At the very least, this would allow him to push his training even harder. How convenient, he thought with a touch of irony. Just what he needed to suffer more efficiently.

But it was more than that. The fire resistance would be a critical defense for the battles ahead, especially as fire-based enemies became more common. And the AOE effect? That was the real game-changer.

With more and more enemies appearing in groups, fighting off large numbers was becoming the new standard. The more area-based skills he had in his arsenal, the better.

And the reward didn’t end there.

Atlas had also unlocked several new talents and abilities.

[You have successfully evolved Perfect Rhythm (A) into a New Talent: Elemental Spear Mastery (S)]

[Elemental Spear Mastery (S)]

[The spear becomes a conduit for elemental power, amplifying the user’s combat prowess and instincts. Every strike, motion, and defense flows seamlessly with the surrounding elemental forces, creating an unstoppable rhythm in battle.]

The talent that had once started as a lowly rank-F had now ascended all the way to rank-S. Elemental Spear Mastery. And with that rise in rank, even the name of the talent had evolved.

While it was true that this battle talent was still tied strictly to spear usage, Atlas didn’t feel too bothered by it. He couldn’t deny the sheer power and utility the spear had given him in countless battles.

No worries, he thought to himself. There was still time. He could always study and master other weapon types in the future.

And with enough refinement, enough breakthroughs, who’s to say the talent itself wouldn’t eventually evolve into something more flexible? Something more universal?

Over the past few weeks, his spear had been his lifeline. From endurance runs to practicing attack patterns, and even in real battles against monsters, the spear had been an extension of himself. By combining all of that with his elemental power, it was no surprise that this talent had finally taken form.

[You have unlock new skill Epic-grade Resonant Spear Field (Passive Skill)

[The spear creates a resonant energy field during combat, amplifying elemental effects and providing subtle enhancements to the user.]

[Increases elemental damage by 15% for spear attacks.]

[Allies within a 10-meter radius gain a +5% evasion and defense boost while the spear field is active.]

[The field adapts to the active element:]

[Fire: Boosts allied attack speed by 10%.]

[Water: Gradually restores stamina.] 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

[Air: Increases allied movement speed.]

[Earth: Reduces incoming damage by 10%.]

Atlas even unlocked a new skill. And, this one turned out to be a passive skill!

The beauty of passive skills was their sheer efficiency. They consumed no mana and less stamina compared to active skills and didn’t require deliberate activation. They triggered automatically, adapting to the user’s situation.

What made this particular skill even more incredible was that it didn’t just affect him; it also extended its benefits to any allies nearby.

Atlas couldn’t help but notice how much his bond with Morganna and Lyrassa had influenced the kinds of skills and talents he’d been unlocking lately.

[You have unlocked a new skill. Epic-grade Elemental Spear Resonance (Passive Skill)]

Oh damn it... the system messages just kept coming.

His brain could barely keep up.

[Synchronizes the user’s elemental mastery with the spear, creating a deep bond that empowers both weapon and wielder.]

[The spear passively radiates an aura of elemental energy, enhancing elemental crit damage by 15%.]

[Successful dodges, and parries release a minor elemental pulse, damaging and staggering enemies within 5 meters.]

[While holding the spear, stamina regeneration increases by 10%.]

Another incredible skill! And once again, it was a passive skill!

This was an upgrade to several abilities he had gained, combined into something extraordinary. This passive skill significantly increased his damage output potential while also providing a massive boost to his stamina regeneration.

It was clear that the stamina-focused training Atlas had dedicated himself to was paying off in a big way. The relentless runs, the grueling drills, and the continuous sparring had not only improved his endurance but also directly influenced the type of skills he was unlocking.

[you have unlocked a new skill. Epic-grade Crystalline Spear Flow (Passive Skill)]

[Enhances the spear with water and ice elements, focusing on precision and control.]

[Spear strikes slow enemies by 10%, stacking up to 30%.]

[Successful hits create a small shield of ice around the user, absorbing 5% of incoming damage for 5 seconds.]

[The shield regenerates after 10 seconds of inactivity.]

And yet another Epic-grade skill!

This time, the skill was infused with water and ice elements. It seemed this development was a direct result of Atlas frequently using water-based abilities during his training. Over time, his water skills had naturally advanced, branching into the Ice Element.

Water had always been his basic common element, with the highest affinity. Because of this, unlocking this skill felt like a natural evolution, one that came with the most potential for growth.

Atlas scanned through the notifications one last time, ensuring he hadn’t missed anything.

After taking a moment to compose himself, Atlas decided to review his overall status.

He knew for certain that his total stat points had increased drastically.